New Music Monday: “Shake Don’t Shatter” by Quiet Hounds

I love music that tells a good story. And boy, does the new Quiet Hounds EP, “Shake Don’t Shatter”, tell one. The EP dropped today, but I’ve had the divine pleasure of getting some behind-the-scenes listens in over the last few weeks. At the beginning of August, I liked Quiet Hounds.

Today? I love them. And I’ll tell you why – but first a little background.

Quiet Hounds aren’t your average band. Why? Because no one really knows who they are. Since their beginnings, the band members have donned creative masks in every publicity photo and at all their elaborate public performances. (Read about their Swans and Embers performance from fall 2013.) They even keep their bio curious, reading that the band is made up of “gentlemen of various talents unexpectedly united with the unabashed desire to produce pure, authentic music with only spontaneity as a guide.”

And they do this for one simple reason: they want music fans to listen to their work with fresh ears.

When my music pal Krissie introduced me to the band’s music a few years ago, I was immediately intrigued and charmed by this mystery because in a Good Groupie’s world the music should always come first.

That said, refusing to give up your identities and promising to only make music that’s truly inspired could go very badly very quickly for a band. (I’m looking at you and that BS excuse for recording a solo album, Nate Reuss.)

But for Quiet Hounds, it works beautifully because their music backs it up in spades. And talk about a band straight up my musical alley! Catchy drums, melodic guitars, lovely harmonies and smart and insightful lyrics: all the things I could ever want in a favorite band.

So when Krissie gave me the heads up about this new EP, I was interested. When she told me how the band planned to debut it, I was sold.

Here comes the why-I-officially-love-them part of my story: since their beginnings, Quiet Hounds was a band based in Atlanta, Ga. Until 18 months ago when the lead singer needed to relocate to California.

The band could have ended easily. A band member moving away might be one of the cleanest breaks to make for band members and fans alike in the realm of band break ups. But, fortunately, that wasn’t the case for Quiet Hounds. The members quickly realized how much they had come to love their band mates and how much their work together meant to them.

“Shake Don’t Shatter” was born.

And that’s as far as I can take you on this particular new music journey. If you wish to finish it, you’ll have to do it yourself.

Why? Because the band rolled out this EP in one of the most brilliant storytellings I have ever seen in my 30+ years of Good Groupiedom.

Over the past month at shake.quiethounds.com, each band member has been telling their story of how their split affected them – and why it made the music they created as a result that much more powerful. I encourage you to get lost in the story – watch each video and read each entry. Give the experience the time it deserves.

Let me know what you think in the comments. I hope you enjoy this unique New Music Monday find and that it rekindles your love for music.

Because it sure has rekindled mine.

Shaking not shattering,

P.S. If you want to learn even more about this band, I encourage you to wander through Krissie’s site. She has some fantastic posts on her experiences with their music – recorded and live.

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